Order please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of
the United States of America and to the republic for which I say why nation under
God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Good evening
everyone hope we get our meeting as we always do with public audience is there
anyone I would like to speak.
To this is. A. Regime.
That's not my life I know yeah that's
a good way. Twenty six which comprise
I would like to inform you that my bumper sticker fixin my Casas December one
thousand and fifteen boycott Michel car dealership was stolen while I attended the
March twenty ninth twenty sixteen board of finance meeting place this bumper
sticker on my car after I was told that my service file at the Mitchell car
dealership stated quote do not service this person after the four hour finance
meeting I returned to my CA to find my bumper sticker missing I mean really went to
the Sims very Police Department to file
a complaint on the theft and asked that the person get arrested I also asked the
police review surveillance tape at town hall parking lot the next day the tape was
reviewed and so was the board of finance meeting S.C. T.V.
Video of the meeting the surveillance tape showed a person driving a red novo S.U.V.
POK the back of my car with my bumper sticker facing the front of the Volvo The
woman wearing
a white coat got out of her car ripped the bumper sticker from my car after
reviewing the tapes the police identified Diana moody as the person of interest
Diana Moody was contacted by the police and was told they saw her on tape taking my
bumper sticker they animality returned to the to the bank they return the bumper
sticker to the police and stated quote on three twenty nine twenty sixteen after
years of frustration with Jones I pulled the bumper sticker off
a vehicle when I got out of
a town meeting and quote does this meet prosecutorial discretion how will they and
a muti try to intimidate me the next time Diana Moody is
a personal friend of Steve Mitchell Why did stay on
a move to Moody think that not only is she above the law but she can arbitrarily
violate my First Amendment right to free speech later the next day I was asked to
return to the police department to see the returned bumper sticker This is all the
police reports and I asked again. If I wanted to have her arrested I once again
stated that I wanted her arrested for larceny six I was told that
a warrant had to be written and sent to the court this NG since there was an
admission of guilt I was told the court will determine whether to have her arrested
on April sixth after the board of finance budget hearing Diana moody affix
a note to my windshield trying to explain away her actions on Friday April eighth I
received
a phone call from the police department stating that the court refused to prosecute
a number eleven prosecutorial discretion since when does a person who admits to
a crime gives the caught the right. To passive to this response.
Give the court the right to discretion since when does a person with MIT's to
a crime gives the quote the right to prosecutorial discretion was
a phone call to the state's attorney's office made that prompted this response why
does the Court pick winners and loses are they different standards for politically
connected people or are they too busy to prosecute crimes I will be contacting the
state's attorney's office to ask for an appeal to their decision how far does their
discretion go when a crime is committed there appears to be
a systemic failure in the criminal justice system to prosecute crimes the board of
selectmen has been reticent to increase avail and through the use of but police
body cameras videos don't lie the theft of my bumper sticker would never have been
solved. In one day if ever if there weren't any cameras at the Town Hall parking
lot if there were cameras on line Hospital of on at the time of the murder Melissa
Milan the police might have been able to find the murderer and solve the crime the
cameras would also oversee any illegal activity at the concert the charter revision
commission is finalized they draft with the town manager the C.E.O.
Of Simsbury I am concerned the time Cook director in this trade of services has
been assigned to the liaison to the charter of vision commission of the town
attorney when he has some skin in the game and could be the heir apparent for the
position of town manager many Chargers have residency requirements of the lab
a town manager to be an integral part of the community the present charter is
written has a residency of thirty miles Tom Cooke lives in West talked and has
a law degree not
a degree in Public Administration. I would hope this charter is if the charter is
approved by the resident there would be an open search for the position of town
manager since very patch reported that to Simsbury residents died of overdose
deaths and twenty fifteen in March twenty sixth teen there were two one timely
deaths attributed to drug overdoses it appears that Simsbury is not immune to drug
addiction all of my comments will be posted and some is very twilight patch Twitter
it Joan cos it is very form topics and news feed on Facebook thank you for
listening and this is my report that was generated by the police the parking Thank
you John anyone else would like to speak Mr COUCH.
Recently has been brought to my tension about the. Privileges that are being
awarded by this board and by the various departments. In the town
of sound very. And. Being that we supposedly
If we practice what we preach and we come from the Valley of the Constitution in
other words we're from Simsbury this was the valley where the revolution started in
where many
a young man an old man went up the Bunker Hill to. Take care of the
German king. And one of the instigators or one of the
leaders of that revolution. To deny
a certain class privilege was
a fellow but in the name of Samuel Adams. And this is what Sam Adams
or Samuel Adams had to say
a constitution has been established the people must be vigilant vigilant guarded
against attack from any source and while
a threat to the people's fundamental rights could come from any direction the
people must be particularly wary of the Eric erect castrating
arrest the picky. Now.
And in years past the aristocracy
was associated would privilege. And we have privilege in Simsbury.
When certain people are more or less told. That they can do just about anything
in town and my opinion the way it's being done is through the two political
parties. It's being done with the Republican Party by of the chairman Mr
Agni. And it's being done with the Democratic Party the chairman.
And it just it just get it doesn't get better it gets worse just like I was
speaking to
a fellow in Washington it doesn't it doesn't get any any better it gets worse case
in point we have
a hero war hero name is Dan Crowley. He.
He was more or less drafted into the Marine Corps when he Schwimmer
a short Corregidor and nine hundred forty two. The Marine that challenge
him asked him who he was and he said it was Corporal Crawley from the United States
Air Force and he says you know Corporal Crawley. United States Air Force anymore
you're Corporal United States Marine Corps and he and he fought with the Marines
and Craig it over. And ironically enough our secretary of state the
wisdom of the White House. Our secretary of state went
to Hiroshima. And it was either on the ninth of April or the
twelfth of April and he laid
a wreath. And for use for you historians let me remind you the ninth of
April that's the day that the United States surrendered.
The tan that's the day that those fellows who were marched off to
a camp O'Donnell they were bayoneted kicked the headed and we
go over to apologize and we do it on the date it took but then. And of course
a month later on the sixth of May we should render they surrendered.
Corregidor. And I just thought I'd mention that but getting back to privilege
that there's no room for and and incentives vary and really you're the
people that judge you're the people that Ministre to you're the people that are in
charge of various things and whether you realize it or not whatever is done in
these departments in town reflects on you and your ability to govern. Now you may
be great to go down and it's like Trump said. He goes oh maybe he's right
maybe we have the same problem in Simsbury that they have in Washington and New
York maybe you people are corrupt. And stick out but how can I how can you how can
you sit our noble eight. And not not get out thank you thank you Mr
Couch and anyone else who'd like to speak up about it. Move on to
presentations. April second was Autism Awareness Day created by the UN and the
month of April as autism awareness we have
a proclamation that Cheryl Cook will read from that I'd like to welcome before that
and recognize that voluntary industry with the aging and disability community
invite him to say
a word or two of you. And I yield to Mr La Montagne he'd like to speak.
Yeah. For. Proclamation if you.
Are of. Common sense very often the state. So I think it's also common
enough. Not to record. Sure where
to go and that not only through last year or so. From our perspective I'm.
Sure we. Do that but I think more for. Thanks for being
here here proclamation pot is an awareness whereas autism the fastest growing
developmental disability in the United States affecting more than three million
people is an urgent public health crisis that demands
a national response and whereas autism is the result of
a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the human brain and
can affect anyone regardless of race race ethnicity gender or socioeconomic
background and where as symptoms and characteristics of autism may present
themselves in a variety of combinations and camera Zoltan
a significant lifelong impairment of an end individual's ability to learn develop
healthy interactive behaviors and understand verbal as well as non-verbal
communication whereas the effort to address autism continues doctors therapists and
educators can help persons with autism overcome or adjust to its challenges and
provide early accurate diagnosis and the resulting appropriate education
intervention and therapy that are vital to the future growth and development and
where as ensuring that persons living with autism have access to lifelong care and
services needed to pursue the full measure of personal happiness and itchy of their
greatest potential and whereas the town of Simsbury is honored to take part in the
annual observance of Autism Awareness Month and World Autism Awareness Day in the
hope that it will lead to
a better understanding of the disorder. Therefore I Lisa have NEVER first selectman
do hereby proclaim April twenty sixth seen as Autism Awareness Month and April
second two thousand and sixteen as World Autism Awareness Day in Simsbury to raise
public awareness of autism and the myriad of issues surrounding our as well as to
increase knowledge of the programs that have been and are being developed to
support individuals with autism and their families in Witness whereof I placed my
seal of the great seal of the town of Simsbury dated second day of April twenty
sixth to have their first look. On to
a person like Windsor Park I wanted to let folks know that we have again won
recognition through the ONLY in your state website and. We were recently learned
that the website only in your state has name since re the best town in America to
live so congratulations to everyone who did that very exciting news I want to turn
mine folks that the time to send a budget calendar is still underway there will be
a public airing at the board of Finance on April nineteenth at six pm The folks
want to go and give comment at that time you can do that and we are scheduled to go
to referendum on May tenth. Spring cleaning and since Berry how we request everyone
to help us keep Simsbury one of the top ten best places to live in America one way
you can do that is to join the board of selectmen and volunteers around town I'm
able seventeenth from ten A.M. To two P.M.
That's trail cleanup day which is organized by the farm team value trails council
our thanks to the president of back ounce of Bruce Donald and all the volunteers
who work so hard to keep our trails clean please join us for that hometown hero
nominations it's that time of year again very exciting time where we get to
celebrate the many wonderful people are in town to do so much to make our community
better we are currently taking nominations and you can find out information about
how to nominate
a hometown hero on our town website. As Cheryl mentioned it is Autism Awareness
Month. I have noticed that you know is lit up blue for this month and there's
a big blue puzzle piece similar to Cheryl's on her. I'd like to recognize Tom
Wright who does this every year and that's in recognition of Autism Awareness Month
of thank you for that the presidential preference primary in Connecticut will be
held on
a full twenty six all polling places will be open and those include Henry James
Latimer lane tariff on two hills and they'll be open from six A.M. To eight P.M.
Please know that there is no election day voter registration for primaries they're
just for regular elections and to find out information about registering to vote
please visit the town website. And learn to remind folks about the household
hazardous waste collection day which is April thirtieth of the town ases very in
conjunction with the towns of Avon Canton Granby in Farmington will be holding
a hazardous waste collection on Saturday April thirtieth twenty sixteen at
Farmington high school and the collection will run from eight A.M. To one P.M.
Residents may dispose of items including compact and fluorescent light bulbs
batteries Longhair chemicals items containing mercury household cleaners chemicals
from the garage and in addition to household hazardous waste Farmington is also
offering free electronic recycling drop off at the Farmington Town Hall which is
one month the Dr thank you to Tom Roy who is here for helping to coordinate that
and if you have questions you can call Tom right public works. The Simsbury
innovation fair is set for April thirtieth from ten A.M. To four P.M.
With exhibit activities demonstrations at the Sims re public library the Historical
Society Simsbury high school check out the cool activities on their website
Simsbury ID ideas dot com That's agree great event encourage folks to come it's
a lot of fun Congratulations to the Simsbury chamber award recipients the Chamber
of Commerce will recognize the achievements of four individuals that at its in you
a leadership awards luncheon on May twenty sixth Hensley will receive the two
thousand and sixteen business leader of the Year award. The public servant of the
Year award will be given to two people this year up on the recommendation of the
board of selectmen and that is Peter ask them
a necklace Mason for their many years of service on the town's board of finance and
finally our congratulations to Brian Foreman
a technology education teacher at Henry James school who is receiving the Chambers
twenty six educator the Year award So thanks everyone for that I see that Tom Lowry
is here and. I would like to request that we amend the agenda so we can get time
out of here for his agenda. And that that
was the first night. Motion to move to the first discussion there the second
so I didn't any further discussion in favor of. So we have before us. A motion
to authorize the first last minute to enter into an agreement with every source
energy to receive the bright ideas for ramp funding turned over time to describe
this it is an outstanding initiative by the human energy task force and time Ray
we're excited to I'm excited to support and I hope the board will be excited too as
well as sure that the clean energy task force are just great and the work that I'm
doing for the since two thousand and eight they have earned enough points to
qualify for not one but actually two of these bright ideas grants this is the first
grant which has a maximum limit of ten thousand dollars looked at
a number of projects with the committee and being that we own six residential
rental homes which are insulated but not insulated up to the maximum standard that
we felt that we'd like to have done we were now we solicited quotations and. Oddly
enough we came in under the ten thousand dollars originally we had estimated it was
going to be a bit higher so I think we got
a pretty good price but roughly eight thousand one hundred thirty three dollars. It
insulates the homes it's going to be fully refundable by the grant and it's going
to give the people who are utilizing these low income rentals the best benefit that
we can because it's going to lower their monthly utility. Questions for Mr Right.
TIME Did you want to say anything about the hazardous waste they do got to govern
my have you here well we formed essentially
a coalition since we've moved away from we used to partner with the metropolitan
district commission in Hartford they changed their program
a few years back and they were actually going to exclude Graeme B.
We had always partnered with Kant in
a Van Sinderen Granby we started doing our own collection with those four towns
a couple years back we moved from Henry James over the Public Works syllabi on town
force road managing ourselves we've actually been able to control costs I think we
actually provide better resident service it's really great to see our guys in to
react interact with with the residents coming there because they can answer some of
these unique questions like if I can't get rid of this here how do I get rid of it
and they know the procedures of the landfill they know where they can get rid of
the scrap metal and it's been really good and Farmington and hearing of the success
that we've had they asked if they could join it so this year we're actually going
to be able to offer three collections to our residents two in Simsbury and this one
coming up in Farmington and then kind of taking farming things lead they have
always worked with their football team to do the electronics recycling where it's
free drop off for electronics but the high school football team is taking the
electronics out and it's an opportunity for them to collect their donations for
tips which help offset some of their costs so we are currently talking little bit
with our own athletic teams including crew team I think we're also going to be
talking to the football team to see if they'd like to partner up with us at that
event so OK Thanks Tom may have
a motion to authorize the first selectman to enter into an agreement with ever
source energy to receive the bright ideas grant funding some of them and we've
heard the discussion they were Place A I think if you don't think so. I'll move on
to I have
a in your agenda I have to mention to prove tax refunds in the amount of five
hundred seventy dollars sixty one cents so have to forgo
a share on one credits and the credit discussion on the table. Say I make the
motion passes unanimously we're going to add table discussion participation in the
C. T. Prime stop loss program and possible action for
a new night and we plan on placing this on the agenda unable to twenty fifth we
anticipate that we will have more information for this board by than you thought we
were operating on to take them by but it turns out we do have to. Wait and get more
information on that idea as to. Moving on to item C.
For further twenty seventeen capital projects through the planning commission for
C.S.T. Section
a twenty four hour Pro It's kind of unusual that we're doing this is that because
the board of Finance has not yet taken
a vote and I believe we can still make the referral because the Board of Selectmen
has recommended it so may I have
a lunch and you are for the capital projects previously approved by the Board of
Selectmen to the Planning Commission in accordance with Section eight twenty four
so most taken any further discussion paper please write the motion carries on and
say that's a one to
a couple to house clean items that we do every budget season and we have the for
you the next one. A motion to approve that is seventeen town wide budget mail or it
has been approved in the form by council and the changes that will be made maybe
after going to craft or if there are budget changes made. During the budget process
which is still ongoing at the. Table nineteenth meeting so the reason why this goes
to council is we cannot do
a promotion so it just has to provide information that's very scripted you'll see
that there are not many changes over the years because this is an approved by
council law so it's is not
a lot of flexibility there are creativity so this is what we have. There have
a motion to approve the tash fiscal year two thousand and seventeen budget bill are
subject to any budget number changes. So much for that. I will
go with Chris. Christie made it makes sense should. Never mind any further
discussion all in favor please say I write the motion passes unanimously you have
before you a public gathering tarmac request for
a political recommendation for approval this is
a motion to order the. Whole thing the. High school graduation
you will be on. As of June eighth at six pm.
Kerry is not here we want classes to graduate are. Going to get our Chris what do
you think. Probably yeah it was done by community but mostly I should imagine
they have a second second and
a further discussion all in favor please there I am writing motion passes
unanimously I will ask the question least I should have this discussion so they
could do this when I was in school. I have no answer for you on that matter the.
Next one is approved Tennyson's be fair housing resolution equal opportunity
policies are very happy to have
a change here and get to why he's here and why it's important to him Tanous is very
behalf of the sins re Housing Authority which is executive director so welcome in
this capacity received
a small cities grant to fund to repair the roof and roads at the Virginia Connelly
and Owen Murphy apartments in connection with this grant and in recognition of
April as fair housing month the town is reviewing
a reissuing its policies designed to protect against discrimination all these
policies are currently in effect and says very issuance at this time ensures that
the policies are up to date and meeting the requirements of the small cities Grant
are going to do this in two motions because the resolution must be read in fault
and the policies can be died as a group so I'll start with the motion one I have
a motion to adopt and authorize the person I meant to execute and reissue the
policy following policies prohibiting described scrimmaged Tory practices which
also provide procedures for enforce
a fair housing policy statement title six equal opportunity statement of terms of
action policy statement no debts and municipal grievance perceived or.
Have
a second second any further discussion. Seeing that they were please
say I will write the motion passes unanimously this next one must be read into the
record I have
a motion to adopt the Fair Housing resolution and we will make it more.
Cold. Where as all persons are afforded
a right to full and equal housing opportunities in the neighborhood of their choice
and whereas federal fair housing laws require that all individuals regardless of
race color religion sex handicap familial status or national origin be given equal
access to all housing related opportunities including rental and home ownership
opportunities and be allowed to make free choices regarding housing location and
whereas Connecticut fair housing laws require that all individuals regardless of
race creed color national origin ancestry sex marital status age lawful source of
income familial status learning disability physical or mental disability sexual
orientation or gender identity or expression be given equal access to all housing
related opportunities including rental and home ownership opportunities and be
allowed to make free choices regarding housing location and whereas the town of
Simsbury is committed to upholding these laws and realizes that these laws must be
supplemented by an affirmative statement publicly endorsing the right of all people
to full and equal housing opportunities in the neighborhood of their choice Now
therefore be resolved that the town of Simsbury here by endorses
a fair housing policy to ensure equal opportunity for all persons to rent purchase
obtain financing and enjoy all other housing related services of their choice on
a nondiscriminatory basis as provided by state and federal law and be it further
resolved that the chief executive officer of the town of Simsbury or his or her
designated representative is responsible for responding to and the system. Any
person who alleges to be the victim of an illegal discriminatory housing practice
in the town of Simsbury and for advise and such person of the right to file
a complaint with the state of Connecticut commission on human rights and
opportunities or the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban and Urban Development or to seek assistance from
the Connecticut Fair Housing Center legal services or other Fair Housing
organizations to protect his or her right to equal housing opportunities to
keep going adopted by the time since Brand April eleventh two thousand and sixteen
. I said. I only have a second I could go
a shot if you any further discussion. I passed we will now
move on we have no sense of anticipation so we will move on to review as the
minutes. We saw him started did you want to speak on the how sure
you feel and would you like to speak I'm not at all.
Right it's what Castro. You know I was you were so.
For. The. Cause of all there was good
thanks OK Good OK sorry. You have to
be small for this room here we are we don't need and it's been
a long arduous process we were going to write We're
looking going to let us know when it's time we'd love to see it. For you.
Next we're going to leave you have the minutes if anyone has any changes we'll take
a motion it's not as well stamped.
I did not have the right to I'll move on to selectmen liaison in subcommittee
report to begin with just now and press so we had
a personnel subcommittee meeting last week where we were asked to review and
approve an amended job description for the Town Clerk register of Vital Statistics
statistics This was dead but done by earth tones Who is he in term deputy director
of administrative services. Our Town Clerk as you know has been with us for
a very long time so there were quite
a few changes that need to be made to it none of them were really substantive
except for one which I mentioned most of it was changing wording such as word
processing manually recording data that's been electronically recorded for quite
a while there were some changes to language relative to what the certification
requirements are there are currently two paths to certification for
a town clerk those were not necessarily represented accurately in the job
description so those were integrated into it there is no change to you know really
anything else on a substantive level so I would ask for a motion or make
a motion to approve the revised job description for the Town Clerk register
a vital statistics have emotion do you have
a second I'll second any further discussion this came about you know the C.E.O.
Person of the two of us yeah the best good luck that it took me hours to get there
after. All of basically say I write commercial passes unanimously I do have an
update for this one. Open space for me to give them please.
Have the open space give any man an April sixth at their our regular meeting at
which point Dave Ryan moved that the committee recommended approval of the tariff
a water storage tank replacement project with Mr readers attached memo included Mr
Price seconded in nonsmoking in favor of the motion passed unanimously. So I just
want to let folks know this is part of your disposition of open space process and
we've gone through the very first step on that and. You'll have see attached to
this to readers memo and on the minutes from them so that's step one does anyone
else have any. First up date from the community for care. With your permission
I just wanted to thank Nancy sheets and Dr Harry Morgan for their participation in
our community for care presentation on depression and anxiety as we age I also want
to thank you for caring members of good in Chris Kelly and the other members of the
committee that work so hard to put on this program and I hope you will look for it
on A C T V Because I think there's
a lot of very valuable information to share so I heard it was very well received so
well done thank you. I can make any comments about where you are.
And priorities for raising. Money does anyone else have any other liaison updates
when we get an update on the integration just I think I mentioned last meeting
innovation fair is coming on April thirtieth it's a great. Location
a vent high school library Historical Society will be opening up
a new section of our very popular bike exhibit and as we've all seen in our recent
audiences on the budget put a lot of people of biking in town and we're opening up
a new section about. Adaptive cycling for people with disabilities so that'll be
a great new inclusive item to add plus all the other technological displays that we
have and everyone's welcome and it's freed everybody so coming down. Excellent any
other after seeing that I'll take
a motion to adjourn to the second day for the discussion please say I think our
journey thank thanks and while I know that that's the record of the job Yes well
that's OK
OK. I'm
.